Flowering induction

Abstract

The present invention relates to nucleic acids or nucleic acid fragments encoding amino acid sequences for proteins involved in the control of flowering in plants, and the use thereof for the modification of flowering in plants. In particular, the present invention relates to nucleic acids or nucleic acid fragments encoding amino acid sequences of FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) polypeptides.

1. A substantially purified or isolated nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of:
 (a) SEQ ID NO: 1; 
 (b) a nucleic acid encoding the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 26 or 27; 
 (c) a sequence that is the complement of SEQ ID NO:1; 
 (d) a sequence that is the complement of the nucleic acid sequence of (b); and 
 (e) an RNA sequence corresponding to the sequence recited in (a), (b), (c), or (d). 
 
     
     
       2. A construct comprising one or more nucleic acids according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
       3. The construct according to  claim 2  wherein the one or more nucleic acids are operably linked to one or more regulatory elements, such that the one or more nucleic acids are each expressed. 
     
     
       4. The construct according to  claim 3 , wherein the one or more regulatory elements include a promoter and a terminator, said promoter, nucleic acid and terminator being operably linked. 
     
     
       5. A plant cell, plant, plant seed or other plant part, comprising the construct according to  claim 2 . 
     
     
       6. A plant, plant seed or other plant part derived from the plant cell or plant according to  claim 5 , wherein the plant, plant seed or other plant part contains the construct. 
     
     
       7. A method of modifying flowering in a plant, said method comprising the step of introducing into said plant an effective amount of the nucleic acid according to  claim 1 , or the construct according to  claim 2 . 
     
     
       8. The method according to  claim 7  wherein the method results in the induction of more than one gene encoding a protein involved in the regulation of flowering. 
     
     
       9. The method according to  claim 7  wherein floral development is activated or accelerated in the plant. 
     
     
       10. A preparation for transforming a plant comprising the nucleic acid according to  claim 1 , or the construct according to  claim 2 . 
     
     
       11. The substantially purified or isolated nucleic acid of  claim 1 , comprising SEQ ID NO:1. 
     
     
       12. The substantially purified or isolated nucleic acid of  claim 1 , comprising a nucleic acid encoding the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:26 or 27.